Friday Funny

A little lame....a little funny. :)

Will's birthday party

Since we didn't win Will a fancy party at My Gym, he had to settle for ice cream with just family.  I think he was ok with that.

We had ice cream cake from DQ.  With all Will's candles on top is looks like a jumbled mess....but a yummy mess!

VERY happy to get his Batman underwear!

 Will playing with Batman, Superman, and Metallo (I think)..

...which left Katie to enjoy Will's new racetrack.

Molly's new best friend

We have a baby bunny that lives in our front yard and comes out to visit every morning.  She sits under the front window and drives Molly NUTS!  The bunny is so little and ridiculously tame.  She actually lays down on her side and closes her eyes on our rocks.  And when you go outside near it, it doesn't hop away.  If anything, it tends to come closer.  Poor thing better learn some "bunny skills" or it won't last long!

Gimmie a "K"!

A couple weeks ago, Katie did a weeklong cheerleading camp.  There were about 6 girls all together and it was a nice age range for her.  This week wasn't hot at all....it was just perfect.  In fact, 4 out of the 5 days, Katie took a sweater with her in the morning.

Sunday's Race

I had my 8k race on Sunday....if you can call it a race.  I don't think anyone was "racing"....it was more of a journey.  Everyone was just trying to get to the end.  My friends, Anne, Vickie, and Vickie's husband ran with me.  Well, not WITH me.  They rock.  In fact, they rock AND roll.  The women are training for a triathlon in August and it's obvious that the work they are putting into their training is really paying off!!  They were awesome.

I ran the first mile, and although hot and sticky, wasn't too bad.  Still, I started walking/jogging after a mile.  The next mile and a half weren't too bad....spots of shade, lots of friendly neighbors sitting in their front yards with their sprinklers spraying on the runners.  (Along with 3 fire trucks on the route.)

That leaves mile 2.5-5......all sun....no shade....and blacktop.  It was along this section that two friends of mine were camped and ready with MUCH needed water.  Thanks Ingrid and Katie, it was a perfect spot and we all agreed that it was a good thing you were there. 

The last mile down mainstreet seemed to take forever!  It helped that there was a crowd lined up for a parade that would start an hour later....but I still couldn't run the entire way.  So, run a couple blocks, walk a block, etc.  In the end, it was a good feeling to having "done" it.  But I don't think I want to do much more than 5 miles for a while. :)  My time??  1:01:03.  My "perfect" goal time would be 50 minutes, but the fact that I was only 10 minutes over that, in a 108 heat index is a pretty damn good thing.

Here is Anne and I towards the beginning of the race.  If you look at Anne, it's obvious it's towards the beginning.  Looking at me, however, you'd think we were on mile 4. :)

Sweet, sweet finish.

Friday Funny

Thanks to my friend, Katie for sharing this!

Heat wave

Boy it's nice out today...and yesterday was beautiful too!  Tomorrow is supposed to rain, but still not get very hot.  It's supposed to be 95 here on Sunday.  Did I mention that I have a 5 mile race on Sunday? :) 

I was supposed to get in a 4.5 run yesterday....but I didn't get on the treadmill at naptime and John golfed late so I didn't get one in last night.  I was thinking about calling the neighbor girl to come over, but there was no answer when I called.  So, I figured that I'd get up early and run this morning....but 6:10 rolled around and I could NOT yank my butt out of bed.  The next thing I know, it's 6:32 and too late to run and make it back by 7 in time for when my "Pebbles" (1 1/2 year old) drops in.  Luckily it's still nice out so I'm determined to get a run in tonight.  Then, maybe a shorter run on Friday night.....then rest up for Sunday.

But, to be honest, I know I'm not going to be able to run the whole 5 miles when it's 95 degrees out.  So I'm not as concerned with "training" for it at this point.  I'll run a bit, walk a bit, yadda, yadda, yadda.  I know I'll finish just fine - but not in 50 minutes like I wanted.

I don't know why the "time" I run is so important to me - just a trait I guess.  I feel like I have to get faster....rather than just do it.  I'm getting better at that...but timing myself is still on my mind.  I think it's just proving to myself that I can do it.  Breaking the 5k in 30 minute mark was a great feeling, and I've slacked off ever since. :)  So maybe timing myself isn't the best idea.

Also - it's not that I like running.  But I don't have a lot of free time in a day, and I can get a real sweat worked up in 25 minutes.....and it's free.  So I feel like I get a big bang for my buck, so to speak.  But I was thinking about when someone "becomes" a runner.  Is everyone a "runner"? (Just non-practicing) :)  If I run 50 feet am I a runner?  If I run 50 feet every day, am I a runner?  Do I have to be able to run a mile?  Because when I started this last summer I sure didn't feel like a runner....could only run about 1/2 mile.  Now I can run 3.1 miles or more....and I still feel like an impostor.  :)

Happy Birthday Will!!!

John William turns 4 today!!!  Can you tell what kind of a party we are having???

Luckily, John, Katie and I don't have to dress up as villians.

The passage of the Will's........

A funny story....we ate supper at Noodles and Company Wednesday night.  Will said he had to go to the bathroom, so I took him.  As we were walking to the restrooms, he starts chanting "mens, mens, mens,mens..." I told him that we were actually going to go into the women's room.  He stopped dead in his tracks and shouts "But, I'm a MAN!"

Happy Birthday to my favorite little man....

Friday Funny

Will's favorite new ride....

This is ONE of Will's new favorite toys.  It was initially going to be saved for his birthday....but he found it/saw it....end of story.  I'm kinda glad we gave it to him early because he's had SO much fun with it.  He even rode it in the local Kiddie parade for the 4th of July.  And it reminds me of my AWESOME Knight Rider big wheel.....ranks right up there with my banana seat bike.  I LOVED going as fast as I could, then whipping around and skidding to a stop.  And of course talking to "KITT".

And then the ducks came out to watch Will motor up and down the sidewalk. 

Eat his dust.....

Stay tuned...this isn't Will's only new ride.  He and Katie both got new bikes over the weekend that they are pretty darn excited about!



On vacation!

Technically, now that I am getting paid for doing what I do everyday....I can also take a "vacation" where I just take care of 2 kids instead of 3. :)  John took the rest of the week off and we are spending some family time together.  Tomorrow we're heading to one of my favorite pools to go swimming and watersliding, and I think it's actually going to be nice out!

We went camping with some friends a couple weekends ago...you know, before the Minnesota government shut down and took the state parks with them.  It was a FUN time with about 7 other families!  Totally worth the mosquito bites.

I HAD to post this one....Angie was an innocent victim of the old marshmallow on the picnic table.

 Will teaching Dad the finer art of roasting.

I "think" they were playing horseshoes....  :) 

Waking up with smiles....



Friday Funny

Let's see how many of you are over 25.....

Ugh....what have I done?

Ok - that's a bit more melodramatic than it needs to be.

I am planning on participating in an 8k in a few weeks.  That's a hair under 5 miles for you non-metric folks.  For months - well, ever since I started running I said 5k was the longest I would ever go.  And I've recently in the last 2 months been able to run the whole 5k without stopping to walk.  So now at least 2 times a week I get in 3.1 miles with no problem. (Well, ok, it's not THAT easy....but totally doable.)

Some friends of mine are running in an upcoming 8k, and I was waffling about being able to do it.  They basically said "Oh just shut up, you can do it!"  Or maybe that was their exact words.....

Cue the rational side of my brain:  I can do 3.1 miles in around 29 minutes.....basically average 10 minute miles.  (My first mile is faster....and then I drop off.)  So add another 2 miles on to that, it's another 20 minutes of running.  If I work up to 4.5 miles before the race and just add chunks of 5 minutes to my current pace, I shouldn't have a problem getting there in 3 weeks.  I'm not planning on running 5 miles for practice....I think getting up to 4.5 miles should be fine.  So now my goal will be to do the 8k in under 50 minutes.  A realistic goal, I think. 

But boy, what a slippery slope this is.....if I can do an 8k.....a 10k isn't much more....just another mile.  Now I'm up to 6.2 miles....a half marathon is 13 miles, right?  Ok, I think I'm gonna set the ceiling at 10k.  For now.

Oh, and the 8k is in the middle of the day.....in July.....let's pray for a cold spell to pass through the area!

Piano recital

Last week Katie did a piano camp.  75 minute lessons for 5 days.  Looking back, they really covered a lot.  There were about 7 kids in the class, all about the same skill level.  She learned all the notes on the staff, where the notes were on the piano, and songs to play with both hands.  She also learned how to draw a treble clef.....I was easily 15 before I learned how to draw those things.

She got a piano book, and is very excited to come back and play on Grandma Mary's piano and Grandma Lyla's keyboard.....so be ready.

In the meantime, here's a clip of her piano recital she gave on the last day of class.  Keep in mind, she's playing for the other 7 students, but also their parents and grandparents.  I spose there was 20 people in the room, and she wasn't nervous at all!

Katie's Party

I better get a post in on Katie's birthday party before it's time to post one about Will's!  We had a party at home for Katie and her friends.  About a month ago I was on the computer looking at party ideas, trying to come up with a craft or activity that would be good for a group of 7 year olds.  I found some treasure hunt ideas and thought that sounded perfect!  The treasure hunt I initially created at an online site had to be shortened and made just a bit easier so that the girls' heads wouldn't explode. 

Overall, I think everyone liked it.  Well - I KNOW 4 of the girls loved it....the other 2, not so much.  But they sure perked up when the treasure chest was opened and they found their goodie bags filled with candy, pencils, paper, stickers, glow sticks, and bracelets.

The night before the party we celebrated as a family and Katie got to open presents from us.  Her number #1 request was for a real pair of binoculars and a compass.  John was able to spearhead that one....much easier shopping for him this year. :)

Opening the lock on the treasure chest. 

The birthday group...all girls from Katie's 1st grade class this year.

Will stayed away.....pretty far away.



Now it's on to Will's birthday in 13 days.  We WERE going to try to win him a birthday party at a local kid's gym.  We were close....but I don't think we're going to win.  Long story short - we're in 2nd place....a pretty far 2nd place.  But that's ok - a family BBQ, campfire and sprinkler session sounds fun too. 

As long as Batman is somehow involved.....

Weekend catch up

Sheesh, going through my pictures and I have SOOO many posts to catch up on!

- Camping trip this weekend
- Katie's birthday party
- Will's early birthday present
- Our newly painted house
- Katie's piano camp
- and more!

I guess I'll just have to start somewhere.  Since I missed a post for Friday Funnies last week cuz I was too darn busy getting ready to go camping, I'll start with some laughs.  Saturday night John and I went to Treasure Island to see comedian Louis CK.  Neither of us had been to a show there before and only John had even been there before.  It took us a little longer than we anticipated to get there, but we were still in time for the show. 

After finding a very short beer line, we settled down in our 9th row, center stage, seats.  I had gotten the tickets from a woman on Craigslist who had to sell them because her grandfather was retiring and having his party that night.  She only wanted face value for the tickets - so I was happy to find out they actually worked and weren't fakes. 

The show was very funny - if you aren't familiar with Louis CK....here's a couple clips.  WARNING:  The first clip is pretty tame and funny....the second one has lots of swearing....so don't watch if you're easily offended. :)

2 mothers....one blog entry

June is a month of birthdays in our family!  I'd like to take time to send out Happy Birthday wishes to John's mom and my mom.  John's mom celebrated her birthday on the 12th and my mom will celebrate hers on the 23rd.  (I use the term "celebrate" pretty loosely.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Summer of Science

Well....ok, 3 days.  Then I got sick of cleaning up the mess.  Katie got a science kit for Easter and we've done some magnet stuff and mixing colors.  This time we got out the fun goo and made fake snow - interesting polymers for all you brainiacs out there. 

Here's Katie blowing a bubble in our green goo.....

Happy Birthday to Katie!

Katie turns 7 today!!  Here's a blast from the past.....

I just like this picture because I love how Will is looking at Katie.  Oh, how wonderful it would be to spend another day with them at this age....

And here is Katie upstaging the Wicked Witch of the West.

Friday Funny

By OVERWHELMING demand, I have brought back Friday Funnies.  (Ok, like 2 people mentioned that they liked it......2 people can still be overwhelming, right??)

So here you go, Anne.....this one's for you.

Maybe a little tom-boy....

Katie shows she's not all princess tiaras and high heels....

Not a post for cynics....

I got a call yesterday from our church.  The woman on the other end told me that a group of women at church had made a "prayer shawl" for Katie.  They had been told a few months ago of the troubles she's had with her knees and they made her a shawl.

Those of you unfamiliar with "prayer shawls" - they are shawl/blankets made by a group of volunteers who pray for a specific person while making them.  They shawls are blessed and given to that person in hopes of providing comfort and good news. 

I was genuinely shocked - I had mentioned Katie's dr appointments a few months ago when we were really unsure about what we were going to find out about her knees.  And just this past week we had gotten some results back from another test that showed some questionable results, and we have to run those tests again next week.  So this comes at a very welcoming time.  On the other hand - our troubles and concerns seem minimal to others going through hard times right now and I feel greedy for taking the blanket when maybe they should have been praying for someone else. 

In any case - even if you can't get behind the whole "pray while making a shawl" or "blessing" concept, you have to admit it's a nice thought to have a group of people volunteer their time to make you something where you know that they were thinking about your family and hoping for good results. 

So stay tuned for a picture maybe later today.....

T-Ball time!

Will started T-ball last week.  This is his first "summer" activity of the year.  He practices for 3 weeks (one morning a week) then in July he joins a little league for T-ball and has games 1 night a week for 6 weeks. 

They worked on learning which base was 1st base...2nd base...and so on.  They also learned how to put their batting helmets on, and to not smack each other with the metal bats.  You know - the real technical stuff. :)

It was SO cute to watch and Will really had a good time.  There was also a girl from his preschool class there that he knew. 

Running the bases...there's Will right in front.

The bat is heavy!

Running home...

The team name:  The Blue Trains

An update....

If you haven't checked in with the McQuillen Caring Bridge lately, please do so.  Sean lost his battle with cancer on Saturday.  Obviously it isn't fair, but this seems grossly unfair because he was just diagnosed weeks ago and wasn't given the chance to really fight back.  So please keep his family, wife Gina and their two beautiful little girls in your thoughts. 

A new favorite

I have a new favorite song that made it to my "running" playlist.  I like to hear it while I'm running, but I especially like to hear it after I'm all done and stretching.  Give it a read and a listen.....

Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
by Avett Brothers

There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There’s a darkness upon you that’s flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what’s wrong and what’s right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it





Oh, and another one that makes me feel warm and fuzzy after I've gotten myself all sweaty....

I Am Mine
By Pearl Jam

The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind

The North is to South what the clock is to time
There's east and there's west and there's everywhere life
I know I was born and I know that I'll die
The in between is mine
I am mine

And the feeling, it gets left behind
All the innocence lost at one time
Significant, behind the eyes
There's no need to hide...
We're safe tonight

The ocean is full 'cause everyone's crying
The full moon is looking for friends at high tide
The sorrow grows bigger when the sorrow's denied
I only know my mind
I am mine

And the meaning, it gets left behind
All the innocents lost at one time
Significant, behind the eyes
There's no need to hide...
We're safe tonight

And the feelings that get left behind
All the innocents broken with lies
Significance, between the lines
(We may need to hide)

And the meanings that get left behind
All the innocents lost at one time
We're all different behind the eyes
There's no need to hide

A warning...

I've been meaning to blog about this for a while now and am finally sitting down to do it.  I want to talk about dentists.  You may remember me writing about taking the kids to the dentist...and if you don't re-read it here and here too.

To refresh, our old dentist kept pointing out these "cavities" that we couldn't see.  Cavities that they'd only pick up on the x-ray.  Cavities that would require "laughing gas" and Novocaine.  I'd ask to see the x-ray and for some reason or another, I wasn't allowed/able to see.  I also was never allowed to go back with the kids, unless I made a big fuss about it, which I usually did anyway. 

Well, 2 years of this and I had pretty much had it.  Crazy high bills ($274 for 2 cavities....that's AFTER insurance.), and just a condescending tone, you know?  Last August the kids had their LAST check-up at this dentist.  I was told that Katie had 3-4 cavities that again - I couldn't see.  I was also told that Will had 2 cavities...one which I could see - a little spot on the outside lower molar.  She said that this cavity required that Will be put "out" and the procedure done in an OR.  Did you catch that?  They wanted him unconscious!

I told them that this was OUT OF THE QUESTION and we would not be coming back.  A few days later I got a call from the dentist and was told that she needed to read me a statement and that I had to give oral notification that I was read the statement.  It was along the lines of "so you're gonna put your child's life in jeopardy because you don't love them like we do", etc. 

It came time to find a new dentist...for myself as well because I didn't want to drive to Minnetonka anymore for myself - I wanted something closer.  I hit the yellow pages called some that had evening and weekend appointments.  Some I just got bad vibes from - one I did not.  One receptionist was wonderful and friendly and sweet.  The kids were able to get in right away for their check-up and I was only a couple weeks later.  The staff insisted I come back with them....they got to watch cartoons on TVs during their check-up and loved the staff - many of whom were grandmas themselves. :)

I alerted the dentist beforehand that I was aware the kids had a lot of cavities.  After their exam she had a talk with me about what she found.  Katie had ONE tiny cavity (not 3-4) that she was certain she could fill without Novocaine...just 2-3 seconds of drilling.  Will had ONE little cavity as well, (not 2) also not needing any Novocaine...just 3-5 seconds of drilling, and certainly did not need to be "put under".  We have since gotten the bill for these 2 cavities as well.....$140 total.  A HUGE difference from the last dentist, who I feel, took advantage of us as parents. 

Sooo....for all you locals out there, I'm naming names......Dr. Angela Wandera and Associates in Eden Prairie. Stay away from them.

Friday Funny

A little religion....a little laugh.

Comfy and cool

Two weeks ago John and I were able to escape for 24 hours to head to a wedding in St. Cloud, MN.  We left the kids with his mom who had driven up from IA for just the occasion.  This was a co-worker of John's getting married...about the last guy in the office to do so. 

Obviously we decided to stay overnight, but the REALLY nice touch that the bride and groom had added were shuttles to take guests back and forth between the hotels and reception/dance area.  This allowed everyone to have a really good time and know that they'd be safe getting back to the hotel.  Hmmm....maybe TOO good of a time.

The bride and groom also had a photo booth set up where piles of people could crowd in, take some pictures, and one set went in a book for the couple while the other set you got to keep.  Talk about craziness. :)  Throw in a mullet wig and you've really got a party. 

As is becoming tradition, hot pizzas showed up about 10:30 or so just to give everyone the last burst of energy needed to get to midnight.  Then we all piled into the shuttles and headed out.  Oh, did I mention the hotel was connected to an Old Chicago?  Perfect for one last nightcap...which was certainly not needed - however, a friend and I decided we'd have one more. 

That brings up to the bathroom floor.  It's been a long time since I've had so much to drink that I was sick all night.  (Ok...so it's only been 2 years....thanks to Shelley's bottle of wine.) BUT in college it seemed to happen more often - as it was supposed to.  The last 2 years of college I lived in a campus apartment with 5 other girls.  We had 2 bathrooms.  On nights where I had had a LOT of "fun" I wouldn't allow myself to get sick in these bathrooms because I didn't want to gross out my roomies.  Sooo...I would go out in the hallway, around the corner and use the public lobby bathroom.  I'd lock the door, hunker down with a blanket and just sleep there for the night so I wouldn't have to go back and forth.  If the roommates couldn't find me...they knew I'd be in the lobby bathroom.  Soo...the hotel bathroom also became my bed of choice that night.  The cool floor, water availability and lights were necessary, believe me.  It was nice to revisit the "younger" days....and now I think I'm good for at least another 5 years. 

Made me feel young again....to a point.  Until, of course, I came home to two kids.  And sure enough, Katie picked that afternoon to get sick herself.  So as I'm holding back her hair, I know just how she feels.

Lots to say....

There are lots of things I should say today....

Happy Anniversary to my sister, Janet and her husband, Jeff.

Congratulations to my niece, Sarah for graduating from high school.

I should tell you about the Wizard Of Oz cast party we went to today.

I should update you on Katie's knees and condition.  (All ok, go in for a checkup on Tuesday.  There I did it.)

I should tell you about the wonderful wedding we went to last weekend and the VERY comfortable bathroom floor that the hotel gave me to sleep on. :)  (Yeah, that one probably deserves it's own post.)

Instead.....I HAVE to tell you about my running today.  Now, I know - some of you may be getting sick of hearing about the "running".  But this one was big.  I ran outside for the first time today in 7 months.  I ran last October in a 5k...and for about 4 months I had been regularly running outside.  Over the winter I had to make due with the treadmill in the basement. 

It's HARD running on a treadmill - nothing to look at but #'s, no breeze, no sun, etc.  Today I remembered why I love running outside so much.  PLUS.....I ran my whole "loop" that I had planned out last summer.  Did you catch that?  I RAN the whole stinking thing!  Not once did I stop to walk, like I have always done in the past - at least two stops to walk.  That's 30 minutes of non stop running.  Could I do that on the treadmill?  No.  So don't ask.  Oh, and my pace was pretty much the same as the treadmill.

Remember my "training schedule" a few weeks back - they wanted me to run 20 minutes!!  Those bastards.

I did it!  So - I guess they did know what they were talking about.


Ok - enough running.  Next post - hotel bathroom floor.

Another friend needs your throughts....

I'm posting another link to a CaringBridge site.  Please take some time to send them your thoughts, prayers, good vibes, etc.  A good friend of mine recently found out that her husband has stage 4 colon cancer.  He's young, strong and they are gonna kick this, but right now it's difficult since it's so early on and they're just trying to get everything figured out. 

Some friends of ours have also set up a calendar for us to bring meals.  I'm signing myself up so I need some thoughts from you all on healthy, whole grain meals that I could bring over. 

Here's their CaringBridge link, and it will also be posted over on the right hand side of the blog. 

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/seanmcquillen

A Late Mother's Day cartoon

I found it!

I finally fount it!  No, not the Christmas present I hid 2 years ago....a book!

Allow me to explain....when I was little I would spend a lot of time at my aunt Carol's house.  She was a school teacher and had "older" books for children.  I think the newest book she had was "Morris Goes to School" - published in 1983.  (A great book, by the way!)  Anyway, most of the books I remember very well, and have been able to find at library book sales.

However, there is one book that was my FAVORITE, but for the life of me I couldn't remember the title.  I loved the pictures, loved the plot of the story - everything.  Now, thanks to Google's amazing search techniques I was able to find the title.

I typed in "children's book invention kids run away from home live in houses they build".  I searched through the first 10 or so results, and there it was "Andrew Henry's Meadow" by Doris Burn.

It said that the author, Doris Burn, had just recently passed away on March 11, 2011.  She was 87 years old.  When my aunt passed away she was 87 years old too.

I got chills and took this to mean that I needed to get a copy of this book.  I want to share it with my kids, in the hopes they enjoy it like I did.  Even if they didn't - I knew I would.  I found a used copy on ebay for $8.00 and I scooped it up.  It's not here yet....but soon....and I can't wait!

Basically it's about a boy whose family doesn't pay any attention to him so he runs away, builds his own home in the woods and lives in peace.  As the story goes on, more neighborhood kids get the idea of running away and join him in the forest.  They each have Andrew build them a unique forest home.  And pretty soon the forest looks like a tiny little town.  As a kid it made me want to imagine what MY forest house would look like and what kinds of things I'd want to have in it. 

Supposedly there's a movie in the works based on the book......Ugh. 

A perfect 10!

On Saturday Katie and I headed to the University of Minnesota for a gymnastics clinic that the Gopher Team was putting on for local girl scouts.  (I was really excited.....I love gymnastics and regret that the only time I attempted even a handstand, I broke my collarbone.)

Katie spent two hours in their practice facility, met all the girls and their coach, and got a signed poster for her room.  She got to do tricks on the beam, floor, bars, vault, and trampoline.  She said the trampoline was her favorite, and the bars hurt her hands.

Katie is in the purple shirt right in front....upside down. 

I think the bars really tuckered Katie out.  She had to keep using strong arms to push up and them they'd help her flip around the bars.

Katie on the bar (purple shirt).  She wouldn't let go of the girl's hand.  I kinda don't blame her....

The Gopher Gymnastics Team in the back along with all the girl scouts.

Katie is down front (second row) on her knees in the purple shirt.

So when am I signing Katie up for gymnastics?  Probably won't.  Unless I can find a nice little camp....bulk up her arms a bit. :)

Molly has a new friend!

Well, maybe "friend" is too strong a word.

This is Dustball...the neighbors cat that likes to run around outside and hunt for mice, bunnies, birds and anything else she can sink her claws into. 

No Molly, you can't go out and play.

Almost forgot the Easter bunny.......

Our Easter was pretty quiet - church, eggs, frozen pizza....you know - the usual.  Both kids sang at church that morning as well.

Will is in the red checkered shirt, Katie is right next to him in the white dress.  Looks pretty innocent right?  Well, this was rehearsal.  They sang at the beginning of the service.  Katie waited with me, and Will waited with his choir teachers.  When they brought them out and lined them up, Will was a totally different child.  He wasn't singing - he was giggling, laughing, running around behind the alter, stomping - you name it, he did it.  I was mortified!  And here it was, Easter Sunday - packed church and I was stuck in back (cuz we had gone to the earlier service)....couldn't get near the front to get his attention and tell him to stop.  Of course everyone else thought it as cute....well, some anyway. 

There's always one kid that does that, right?  I just would rather it be someone else's next time.

Congratulations William and Kate....

....from another William and Kate.

Run like the wind

Ok - so I don't quite "run like the wind".....

But I thought I'd give a little update from a couple weeks ago when I posted the 5k schedule I was following. Remember I was a little shocked at how it jumped from running 3/4 of a mile on day to running 2 miles the very next time. Well, let's just say I didn't do the 2 miles.

Week 5 had me doing 5-8-5-8 (walk 5, run 8, walk 5, run 8). I did that for a couple days then decided to "up it" to 5-10-5-10, and I was shocked that I didn't fall over dead. In fact, I realized that I honestly could have gone 5-12-5-10...maybe more. I think I'm starting to break through that "wall".  I have to have conversations with different parts of my body when my head starts screaming at me "STOP!! What are you trying to do to us - we can't do this! You KNOW we can't do this - STOP!!"

I have to consciously "check" my legs - they're fine....no pain...just tired...they can keep going. My arms: same thing, no pain - keep going. My chest - take some slow breaths, try to do some deep breaths instead of all quick shallow breathing. Calm down. No pain in the side.  Then I tell my head to F*#k off, we CAN do this.

Now I think most "runners" do this about mile 13-14....I do this at about 8 minutes in. :) However, it really makes you realize how short of a time span 2 minutes is. If you can run for 8 minutes, then I bet you can do 10. If you can do 10, then I'm sure you would survive 12...and so on. Plus - the first minute goes by so fast, doesn't really count....so if you run for 15 minutes....you really only have to worry about running 10. (Stop laughing...this rational works for me.)  When I was pregnant the first time, we took a delivery class at the hospital and that teacher told me something that really helped get me through the delivery.  "You can do ANYTHING for a minute."  A minute is not that long - you really can do anything for a minute.  Take each contraction, deal with it on it's own.  Take each minute you run, deal with it on it's own.  They all end sometime.

I think I've come a long way. The fact that I can run a whole mile - walk for 4-5 minutes, then run another mile right away, makes me happy and proud of myself. I never could do that before. So, I'm not really following the 5k schedule anymore - I'm improvising my own. Right now 5-10-5-10 is a good challenge, and I'd like to see the first 10 minutes increase a little each week, while the 5 minute walking in between shortens up. Yesterday I did 5-10-4-10 and that was a challenge. Usually by the end of this 29 minutes, I'm at just under 2.75 miles....then I was for about 90 seconds and sprint the last 90 seconds so I can get 3 miles in around 32 minutes. My goal has always been to get a 5k in under 30 minutes. Not sure if I'll ever get there, but after 7 weeks of solid running 3 times a week, I'm happy with where I'm at.

My question for you all.....
I've had to re-vamp my music that I listen to lately. The hard, fast, pulsing sounds of Green Day seem to make me more out of breath, even if I don't speed up. So I've inserted some Avett Brothers, Dave Matthews, etc.

If you listen to music when YOU exercise, what do you listen to?

Wedding Week

Have you heard that there's a royal wedding taking place this week?  Just checking to make sure you aren't living under a rock or anything. 

There are TONS of specials about the royal wedding on this week, and I've watching a few here and there, but none are great.  I don't give a flying fig about where Kate and William shared their first kiss....where they held hands.....how many times they broke up......what kind of dress she will wear......yadda, yadda, yadda.  Don't get me wrong - I'll watch the ceremony (not at 4 am), but I'd MUCH rather hear about Westminster Abby itself - do a special about that.  Tell everyone about how many wonderful coronations have taken place there......how many other weddings (besides members of the Windsor family) have taken place there.  Tell us about who's buried there - no, you won't, well then allow me....

Did you know ALL these and TONS more are buried there.....
Jane Austen
Margaret Beaufort (Henry viii's grandmother)
William Blake
Sir Winston Churchill
Oliver Cromwell (Lord Protector of England in the 1600's.....his plaque says "Burial place of Oliver Cromwell 1658-1661....only 3 years....cuz after 3 years Charles II had him dug back up....taken to Tyburn - where most executions were done and his dead body was hung up for a few days, then his head cut off and put on spikes. I'd gather he upset a few people while alive. )The fact that this still happened even just 200 years ago - blows my mind.

Charles Darwin
Charles Dickens
Sir Francis Drake
Sir Isaac Newton
William Shakespeare
Frances Brandon (daughter of Charles Brandon - niece of Henry viii, mother of Lady Jane Grey who was Queen for 9 days, then executed.)

Anne of Cleves (4th wife to Henry viii.....Queen Mary ordered her buried in the Abby....cuz she was catholic and Mary quite liked that about people.)

Speaking of being catholic....did you know that William had to ask the Queen's permission to marry? Not a big surprise - but one of the reasons she gave her approval is because Kate is NOT catholic.  The monarchy demands that if a person in line for the throne marries a Catholic - then they abdicate their claim to the throne.....or the Catholic must convert faiths.  I guess they'll be damned if another Catholic gets any power in England. :)

This is the stuff I want to know about - so since the news coverage isn't giving it to me - I guess I've found other sources. :)

I figured I can do as many posts about the royal wedding as I want because we have OUR OWN Kate and William.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today I am sending out birthday wishes to my dad.  I hope you get to do whatever you want today!  It's probably too early to mow the lawn....so maybe that leaves a trip to the nearby gambling boat. :)  If that's on the schedule - good luck!

John has memories of his dad taking him into town (they lived in the country) and treating him to a pop.  I have the same memories with my dad too.  Sometimes if I ran errands with him we'd stop off and I'd get to have a pop...in a glass....with ice...and a teeny straw.....and usually a candy bar or chips of some sort while I twirl and spin around on the wobbly circle bar stool.  I guess that's a "dad" thing - unexpected treats like that.  It's the same thing in our house - if the kids want candy or a treat they know that their odds are best if they hit up John first. :)

So happy birthday dad!  I wish we could go share a pop today, but maybe we can make time to do that in a few weeks.  Either that, or I'll help you mow the lawn. :)